Latest news with #PeterHelliar
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Peter Helliar names worst celeb to interview
Australian comedian and TV personality has named the celebrity responsible for his all-time worst interview: Hollywood action man Mark Wahlberg. Appearing on The Hit Network's Carrie & Tommy show on Tuesday, Helliar recalled flying to the US in 2017 to interview Wahlberg and Will Ferrell to promote their film Daddy's Home 2 for The Project, but said it seemed Wahlberg did not want to be there. Helliar prefaced his interview by saying that he'd interview Wahlberg in the past and 'many times he's been great' – however, on this particular day, 'I think Mark may have either been hungover, tired, or not interested. He had his phone out …' Host Carrie Bickmore asked if Wahlberg had taken his phone out mid-interview, which Helliar confirmed – but said the star did eventually put it away again. 'It was just too weird … he wasn't doing it in a fun way. I've interviewed Will a few times – and he does remember me – and he was a little bit embarrassed and carried the interview. That was not a great one. But I've had experiences with Mark Wahlberg where he has been great,' he said. The interview aired in November 2017, but it seems it never made it online, save for a brief seven-second teaser clip which was shared to social media before the episode and showed Ferrell and Wahlberg both laughing along with Helliar. Elsewhere in his chat with Carrie and Tommy, Helliar revealed his celebrity 'Hall Pass' – aka his biggest celebrity crush: Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore. 'She's great, she's awesome. Redhead; she's great. I do love Julianne Moore,' he gushed. Helliar is hardly the first Australian TV or radio presenter to name and shame a dud celebrity interviewee. Last month, comedian and radio host Mick Molloy named F1 champ Mark Webber as a contender for his worst interview, describing the former nine-time Grand Prix winner as 'honestly designed to not give an interesting answer.' Molloy had previously told about an awkward interview with country superstar Shania Twain at the peak of her 90s fame, which was scuppered by Twain's posse of handlers sitting in the studio to constantly interrupt and tell him 'You can't ask that.' Beau Ryan revealed on-air earlier this year that popular US actress Melissa McCarthy was his worst famous interview to date, describing her as 'prickly' during their chat several years ago. '[She gave] short answers, didn't want to be there, gave me nothing,' he continued, saying the 'disappointing' interview made him feel 'uncomfortable.' Also earlier this year, Dave Hughes named another hilarious Hollywood A-lister as his least favourite interviewee when asked by his campmates on I'm A Celeb. 'If we're going to be honest … it hurts me to say it, but it's … Ben Stiller. I was a big fan, and he was just a pain in the a**e,' Hughes confessed, before joking that he might have 'ruined his Hollywood career' by calling out the powerful actor and director. Perhaps radio stars Amanda Keller and Brendan 'Jonesy' Jones can claim the prize for worst interview with a Hollywood star, though. Several years ago, they confessed to that their interview with A-list actor Harrison Ford had gone so badly it was deemed unusable and never actually aired. 'He was cranky, he was surly, he wasn't our favourite … and we dropped him,' Keller revealed.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Comedian Peter Helliar recalls his 'worst ever interview' with A-List Hollywood star
Veteran presenter Peter Helliar made the bombshell admission on Tuesday that his 'worst ever interview' was with Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg. The Project ex-host, 49, appeared on The Hit Network's Carrie & Tommy radio show and was asked who was the 'worst guest' he had ever interviewed. Peter did not mince words when naming names and said one difficult interviewee left a strong impression on him. 'Mark Wahlberg. I've interviewed Mark many times,' Peter began. 'He's been great... but I went over to the US for [his 2017 movie with Will Ferrell ] Daddy's Home 2.' He added the actor seemed distracted during the chat and didn't pay much attention to him. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'Will was great. But I think Mark may have either been hungover, tired or not interested. He had his phone out,' he said, adding the chat was a bizarre experience. 'It was just too weird. He wasn't doing it in a fun way. 'I've interviewed Will a few times – and he does remember me – and he was a little bit embarrassed and carried the interview. 'That was not a great one. But I've had other experiences with Mark Wahlberg where he has been great.' Peter and the Hollywood star have had a friendly rivalry for years and during a 2017 interview on Channel Ten's The Project, Mark took a playful swipe at him. During the interview, Mark joked that Peter was not a 'real' father because he has yet to sire a daughter. The Ted star's comment came after Peter interviewed Mark and his Daddy's Home 2 co-stars - Will Ferrell, Mel Gibson and John Lithgow. 'How many kids do you have?' Will asked the Network Ten presenter to which he replied: 'Three boys.' He added Mark seemed distracted during the interview and didn't pay much attention to him. Pictured: Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell on The Project in 2017 With that, Mark took a dig at Peter and also his co-star Will, who also has three sons. 'You're not even a real parent, okay?' Mark said. 'You guys don't have a girl. 'As soon as you have a girl, you've got stress, dude - teenagers. 'It's like problems, emotions and hormones... Things you never knew existed.' Cutting back to the studio, Peter revealed that he found Mark's comments a little off-putting. 'I felt a little bit confronted,' he admitted. 'Not having a girl means I'm not a parent.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Former Project star makes shock return to the show after quitting three years ago
Peter Helliar was back on The Project on Tuesday night. The comedian, who sensationally quit the current affairs series in 2022, appeared alongside series regulars Waleed Aly, Sam Taunton, Sarah Harris and guest star Kate Langbroek. While fans of the show were happy to see Peter back behind the desk, he was just dropping by to promote his new children's book, Detective Galileo. Peter admitted he felt a little unusual sitting in a spot on the desk normally reserved for guests. 'I used to be on this side of the desk, and then the last few times on that side, and now back on this side. I'm playing tennis with myself!' he joked. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Peter explained that his three sons Liam, Oscar and Aiden 'are 22, 20 and 16' so no longer the target audience for his kid's books. 'I still sit at the edge of their bed and read to them' he joked. 'They are less interested to hear my ideas, but they love it and they are supportive. I try to get in touch with my own inner child rather than talk to my kids about it'. It's not the first time Peter has returned to the show since his departure. Last year, he appeared on the desk alongside Michael Hing, Max Rushden and Sarah Harris. 'It's our globetrotting mate, Pete Helliar, on the desk!' the veteran was introduced, before explaining what brought him back to his old stomping ground for a guest appearance. 'I had to come back from Argentina because I've not put in my vote in for marsupial of the year' Peter, who had spent time travelling recently for The Amazing Race Australia, joked. 'The Wi-Fi wasn't good on the Inca Trail. I'm a hairy-nosed wombat guy. They twerk people to death'. Peter then settled right into the show, presenting stories and joking with the new cast like old friends. His fans were delighted, with several sharing their thoughts on social media. 'Great! You need to return permanently!' wrote one person while someone else said: 'Should be the co-host'. Peter earlier revealed the real reason why he quit The Project as the mass exodus from the struggling Channel Ten show continues. The 49-year-old announced he was leaving the show three years ago, and at the time explained he decided to quit following the departure of his co-host Carrie Bickmore. 'Carrie, you recently said that you are glad you're leaving The Project while you still love it and I still love the show. I really do,' he said. '[The Project] means a lot to me. It's done amazing things for me. I interviewed Luke Skywalker once... and I look forward to see what the show is in the future.' Peter also said he's excited to be moving into 'new areas' and didn't want to be 'a creator who leaves meetings to go to another meeting'. He also told Nova's Fitzy & Wippa that he wants to 'do things with my life professionally and personally'. '[There are] things I want to do with my life, not just professionally but personally and I've already booked into the ashes in London next year,' he said. 'It's not just 10 years on the project. But before that is like 10 years on Rove Live in the office every day.' The Project was rocked by two other high-profile exits in late 2022. Lisa Wilkinson announced she was quitting effective immediately, and long-time anchor Carrie confirmed her departure a month prior. 'I have decided it's time to reprioritise a few things in my life,' Wilkinson began alongside co-hosts Hamish Macdonald and The Bachelor's Laura Byrne. 'And after almost 15 years of the early alarm of breakfast TV, and now another five years here at The Project desk, I'm looking at how I want the coming years to play out both professionally and personally.' In October that year, Lisa's co-star Bickmore announced her departure from The Project after 12 years on air. Bickmore had been absent for a three month 'sabbatical' with her family in London earlier this year, before returning to the panel in July, only to quit in October.
